Palestine concession stand under new management

February 16, 2014

EAST PALESTINE - The concession stand at Village Park is being taken over by a private company.

Village Council this week approved leasing the stand to Savvy J's Snack Shack LLC, which is owned by the same people who own C&S Concessions, the company originally listed on the draft leasing contract.

Council Clerk Misti Martin explained the family had to keep the businesses separate for tax purposes, and that is why Savvy J's is now listed as the one on the contract.

Council began discussing leasing out concession operations last year to save money upon Councilman Don Elzer's suggestion. According to previous reports, the village lost about $45,000 over five years through the stand alone, since it was costing more to operate than it was taking in.

Elzer said leasing the stand to a professional company would eliminate those costs.

Savvy J's must operate the stand when the pool is open but can also operate other times during the year. The company will pay utilities to the village.

Park Manager Dot Herbert said turning the operations over to the company means the seven park employees who formerly operated the stand are now out of jobs.

There were two adult supervisors and five students, and they were all making minimum wage.

The employees do have the option of applying for lifeguard or other park positions, although she noted not all of them were swimmers, so lifeguarding may not be an option.

Also approved by council was:

- A second reading of legislation authorizing Village Manager Pete Monteleone to fill the part-time building inspector position.

- A first reading of legislation advertising for bids for a street resurfacing project on several streets beginning at Sugar Camp Drive.